Mambilla Trial: Court Hears Agunloye Merely Carried Out Presidential Directives

The trial of former Minister of Power, Dr. Olu Agunloye, resumed on Monday at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, offering fresh insights into the long-running controversy surrounding the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project. Testimony by a senior official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) suggested that Agunloye acted strictly within the framework of presidential and institutional approvals rather than pursuing any personal agenda.
During a court-restricted one-hour cross-examination before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, Senior EFCC Investigation Officer, Mr. Umar Babangida (PW3), outlined the timeline and approval process that led to the award of the Mambilla contract to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited.
PW3 disclosed that the structure and approval of the Mambilla contract were largely concluded before Agunloye’s appointment as Minister of Power. According to him, the award was based on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between Sunrise, its technical partners, and the Federal Government well before Agunloye assumed office.
The witness further testified that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had approved the core details of the project, including the crucial decision to limit Federal Government participation to 25 per cent, down from an earlier proposal of 35 per cent. These approvals, PW3 said, were in place before Agunloye took over the ministry.
Upon assumption of office, Agunloye, according to the witness, submitted the Mambilla memo to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) strictly in line with the President’s directives. Although PW3 initially appeared uncertain about whether the memo received FEC backing, the court directed him to read from EFCC Exhibit E3, after which he confirmed that FEC members supported the memo.
PW3 also revealed that the 2003 Federal Government budget had already earmarked N6 billion for preliminary works on the project. He explained that the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project was structured as a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) arrangement, under which Sunrise was expected to raise approximately $6 billion from private investors, while government exposure remained limited to preparatory activities.
These disclosures, the court heard, demonstrate that major financial, policy, and administrative decisions concerning the Mambilla project were taken before Agunloye’s tenure, highlighting adherence to established budgetary provisions and institutional processes.
PW3’s testimony painted a picture of layered oversight involving the Presidency, FEC, and the budgetary authorities, suggesting that Agunloye’s role was largely that of an implementing minister rather than an originator of the project’s framework.
The court adjourned proceedings at 12:05 pm, with cross-examination scheduled to resume at 1 pm on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. Legal observers expect the next session to further clarify the approval process, financial structure, and the respective roles of public officials in one of Nigeria’s most ambitious yet controversial power projects.